Page Index:

Obtaining a Visa:

All students must obtain a student visa prior to entering Canada in order to study in Canada. You may apply for a student visa in advance or at the point of entry into Canada. To obtain a student visa you must provide the following documents:

The student visa fee is approximately $150 (CDN) The application kit is available for download on the internet at Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Working in Canada:

Please Note: Student visas do not permit you to work in Canada. A separate work visa is required. Contact the Canadian consulate or Citizenship and Immigration Canada (in Vancouver 604 666-2171 or Toll Free 888-242-2100) for information. We do not recommend that students hold jobs while attending VMPS. Programs are intensive and a flexible schedule is required. Evening and weekend work is often necessary

Arrival in Canada:

You MUST have all the required documents upon arrival in Canada. You must show these documents to the immigration officer at the port of entry. Should you not be in possession of these documents, you may be refused entry into Canada.

Changes:

You must contact the Canada Immigration Telecentre at 1-800-665-9100 or the Canada Immigration Centre in Victoria in person immediately if:

Any changes MUST be made BEFORE your current authorization expires. If you do not report any expected changes, you will be breaking the immigration laws of Canada.

The address of the Canada Immigration Office in Victoria is:

Canadian Immigration Centre
Room 377 - 816 Government Street
Victoria, BC, V8N 1W9
Canada

Please note that informational enquiry's may be made to the Canada Immigration Telecentre and extensions or changes to your status in Canada will be processed through mail by the Immigration Central Processing Centre in Vegreville, Alberta. Application kits may be obtained by telephoning the Telecentre at 1-800-665-9100 or in person at Canada Immigration Centre, Victoria.

Passport:

If your passport needs to be renewed during your stay in Canada, you should contact your home country's embassy or consulate in Canada AT LEAST 2 MONTHS before the passport expires.

Other Canadian Laws

Smoking:

Smoking is discouraged in Canada. There are high taxes on cigarettes and you must be 19 years of age to purchase cigarettes. There are severe restrictions on where an individual can smoke. You will find designated smoking areas as most public places are smoke free. Smoking is prohibited on airlines, trains and buses in Canada. Possession or use of marijuana is illegal in Canada and is a criminal offense.

Driving:

Medical Insurance & Health Information

Medical Insurance:

It is essential that all International students at VMPS, their spouses and children, have adequate medical insurance coverage during their stay. The government-run BC Medical Plan insurance does not come into effect until 3 months after arrival. See below for obtaining BC Medical Insurance.

You have to arrange for your own medical insurance through either:

BC Medical Insurance:

You should apply for BC Medical Insurance as soon as possible after arrival. Application forms are available at the Ministry of Health on Blanshard Street at Pandora Street in Victoria. BC Medical Insurance can take effect only when your 3-month residence requirement is fulfilled and if you have applied for coverage.

The typical waiting period until a non-resident is eligible for the Provincial BC Medical Services Plan is the balance of the month from the day of arrival, plus 2 months. You will receive your BC Medical Care Card through the mail when your application is processed at the end of the three months. The current premium rate for the BC Medical Insurance Plan is $54/month per person.

Dental Coverage:

The BC Medical Insurance Plan does not cover dental services. Dental services are readily available in Victoria. For those on a budget, Camosun College offers a cost-efficient dental examination service as part of its dental hygienist program, although there is often a long waiting list.

Finances, Living Costs & Banking

The Canadian currency consists of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters in coinage, as well as the dollar coin (loonie) and the two-dollar coin (toonie). Paper currencies are the five dollar, ten dollar, twenty dollar, fifty dollar and one hundred dollar bills.

American and other foreign currency bills, as well as traveller's cheques, can be converted to Canadian currency at any major bank or the American Express office on Douglas Street in downtown Victoria. Some institutions charge a minimal fee for these transactions.

Estimated Living Costs:

The following estimated costs are based on 2002 Statistics Canada and BC Government moderate standard of living guidelines:

    8 months: $8,000
  12 months: $12,000

Banking in Canada:

Banks, Trust Companies and Credit Unions offer safe financial services. You will find multiple branches for these institutions throughout Greater Victoria for your convenience. Be sure to bring your passport and at least two other pieces of picture identification.

These are the two most popular types of bank accounts:

The fees charged and interest earned on your account will vary from institution to institution. Be sure to ask about any restrictions and how often the fees and interest are subject to change.

Safety Deposit Box:

Safety deposit boxes are small secure boxes located inside the bank vaults and may be rented at any bank. These boxes are useful for storing important, irreplaceable documents and valuable items.

Bank Drafts:

Money sent to you in Canada from your home country is best sent in the form of a 'bank draft'. A bank draft can be sent directly to your Canadian Bank account from your home country. Be sure to get a receipt from the bank as proof of transfer of funds. A minimum of 2 weeks is normal for a bank draft to clear, before you receive your money. Be sure you have a sufficient number of traveller's cheques to draw on until your money transfer is completed.

Housing:

Victoria offers a range of accommodation, from bachelor suites to shared accommodation to basement suites to apartments. Victoria's major daily newspaper the Times Colonist has extensive listings in their classified ads. You will also find many listings on websites for the University of Victoria and Camosun College. Some vacancies are not advertised and are found by looking for rent signs in windows. The number of listings peak in July so looking early gives you a wider selection. It should be noted that it is the responsibility of the student to enter into any arrangements or agreements with landlords. The following is a list of typical minimum monthly rents:

These are questions you should ask the landlord before signing the rental agreement:

If you have any further questions or problems, call the Residential Tenancy Branch at 387-1602. They may also provide you with a copy of the Landlord and Tenant Act.

Temporary Accommodation:

Climate & Clothing

Canada certainly has polar bears in its extreme northern reaches, and although Canadians residing in the Arctic did live in igloos several hundred years ago, they do not generally do so any more. Victoria has the mildest climate in all of Canada. It is a favourite destination because only rarely does it experience any weather extremes.

Temperatures range from -5 C to 10 C in the winter and up to 30 C in the summer. Victoria receives a steady stream of rain in the winter months, though not as much as Vancouver. A raincoat, umbrella and waterproof footwear is highly recommended.

The mild climate allows Victorians to enjoy numerous hiking trails, a wide variety of water sports and snowsports. You should consider bringing or purchasing clothes appropriate for these purposes. In class, students dress casually. While on crew, appropriate footwear is required. Open toe footwear is strictly forbidden. You should also have a least one business-like outfit, as there will be opportunities to meet with industry professionals.

Getting Here

Victoria is a major tourist destination on Vancouver Island. Victoria has direct 35-minute flight links to Vancouver and Seattle by plane, floatplane and helijet service. Flying is more affordable if you book in advance. Every 30 minutes there is a shuttle bus (Akal Airporter cost of $13) from Victoria International Airport to downtown Victoria. The trip takes between 30 - 40 minutes.

Direct bus and ferry service between downtown Victoria and downtown Vancouver runs hourly during the summer and every two hours the rest of the year, with journey time approximately 4.5 hours. This includes the time spent on the ferry.

 Click here for a handy printable map to make finding our school easier.

Food

The BC Government recommendations for a basic nutritious diet are $300/month. Victoria has a large selection of grocery stores, ethnic grocery stores, health food stores and delicatessens. Victoria also offers a wide variety of restaurants from fast-food to fine dining.

Communications

Telephone:

Residential telephone lines are obtained through TELUS. The initial hookup fee is approximately $45 if they can do it from their office. If residential installation is required, it is $100. If you have no credit history established, you will need a deposit of $200 or someone local to co-sign your rental agreement with TELUS. Your monthly rental rate for the phone line is $20.00 plus the rental of the phone of between $4 - $10 depending on the complexity of the phone. Long distance charges vary depending on which company you choose. TELUS, Sprint and AT&T Canada are three of the most popular.

When calling outside Victoria to anywhere in Canada or the USA, you must dial 1 + the area code + the number. You will find a directory of area codes in the front of the TELUS phone book. Make sure you understand the long distance charges before you phone, as it can be very expensive. To direct dial internationally, you begin with 011 + country code + city routing code + local number.

At VMPS, students may place local calls from the two telephones located in the student production offices. No calls should be made or received during class hours. Incoming faxes and phone messages will be placed in your mailboxes for you to check outside of class hours. Pagers and Cell phones are prohibited during class hours.

Email:

VMPS does not provide email service for students. However, as there is internet access available for the students, they may obtain a free email account either from hotmail.com or yahoo.com.

SnailMail:

If you wish to have your regular mail delivered to the school until you are established, be sure the sender marks it clearly with your name in large, bold letters so it is easily recognizable as yours. It will be placed in your student mailbox. For example:

PAT SMITH

pc/o Victoria Motion Picture School Ltd.
Suite #101 775 Topaz Avenue
Victoria, BC, V8T 1H1

Canada

Cross-Cultural Adjustment:

Going into a new culture and environment can be fun and exciting. The film business is a world onto its own. As you adjust to your new surroundings, you might also experience ups and downs. This is normal! There are 5 typical stages of adjustment. You may experience some, all or none of these stages, but the important thing to remember is that these reactions are normal and healthy.

Here are some ways to help make the transition from one culture to another easier and more interesting:

Athletics, Recreation and The Arts:

Victoria has a wide range of athletic facilities. The municipal recreation centres usually offer swimming, weight training and intramural sports. Bowling, lacrosse, water sports, skating, ballroom dancing, sailing and golf are a big part of Victoria's sports scene.

The arts are also a major part of life in Victoria. Theatre groups, cinemas, music performances and art exhibits offer tourists and residents alike, a great deal in this regard.

The weekly publication, Monday Magazine (free at various locations in Victoria), and the daily publication, the Victoria Times-Colonist have up-to-date information on news, arts, sports, local issues and accommodation.

The University of Victoria's Cinecenta screens art, foreign and mainstream films daily. The Cinecenta guide is available at many locations in Victoria. There is discounted admission for students.

Bookstores abound in Victoria from large shops such as Bolen Books, Munro's and Chapters to smaller specialized outlets. The Greater Victoria Public Library system is free to residents of Victoria upon proof of residency. (Any piece of mail that you've received will suffice as proof of residency.)

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